The Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus grades candidates while our connected political fund, the Minnesota Gun Owners PAC, endorses candidates. The organizations share the same leadership and Board of Directors.
Our grades are based on a number of factors, including a candidate survey that was sent to each candidate, their public record of votes and statements, and grades from like-minded gun rights organizations. All grading recommendations are reviewed and approved by our board.
You can view our Legislative Scorecard for incumbent legislators to see their votes on any legislation, amendments, or procedural motions that we scored in the current legislative session.
Our candidate survey covers a number of gun rights topics, including constitutional carry, self-defense law reform (stand your ground), licensing and registration, universal background checks, the right to keep and bear arms, and related topics.
In order to receive a grade of A- or higher, a candidate must support all of our legislative priorities, including Stand your Ground and Constitutional Carry, and must oppose all gun control legislation. Our PAC only endorses candidates who receive the grade of A- or higher, support our core legislative priorities of Constitutional Carry and Stand your Ground, and asks for our endorsement in the survey process.
Candidates who have a track record in office, such as a voting record and/or authorship of bills, will also have their record taken into account for grading and endorsement purposes.
Candidates who do not submit a survey are marked as such and graded on existing records and/or other public statements that they have made.
Questions about grades and endorsements can be directed to us via e-mail at contact@gunowners.mn.